At a Glance

Why Get Tested?

When to Get Tested?

During a routine physical or when you have symptoms of a UTI, such as abdominal pain, back pain, frequent or painful urination; as part of a pregnancy check-up, a hospital admission, or a pre-surgical work-up

Sample Required?

One to two ounces of urine; first morning sample is most valuable.

Test Preparation Needed?

None

The Test Sample

What is being tested?

A urinalysis is a group of chemical and microscopic tests. They detect the byproducts of normal and abnormal metabolism, cells, cellular fragments, and bacteria in urine. Urine is produced by the kidneys, two fist-sized organs located on either side of the spine at the bottom of the ribcage. The kidneys filter wastes out of the blood, help regulate the amount of water in the body, and conserve proteins, electrolytes, and other compounds that the body can reuse. Anything that is not needed is excreted in the urine, traveling from the kidneys through ureters to the bladder and then through the urethra and out of the body. Urine is generally yellow and relatively clear, but each time someone urinates, the color, quantity, concentration, and content of the urine will be slightly different because of varying constituents.

Many disorders can be diagnosed in their early stages by detecting abnormalities in the urine. Abnormalities include increased concentrations of constituents that are not usually found in significant quantities in the urine, such as: glucose, protein, bilirubin, red blood cells, white blood cells, crystals, and bacteria. They may be present because:

There are elevated concentrations of the substance in the blood and the body is trying to decrease blood levels by "dumping" them in the urine.

Chemical examination, which tests chemically for about 9 substances that provide valuable information about health and disease.

Microscopic examination, which identifies and counts the type of cells, casts, crystals, and other components, such as bacteria and mucus, that can be present in urine.

The first two phases of urinalysis may be completed in the laboratory or doctor's office. A microscopic examination is then performed if there is an abnormal finding on the visual or chemical examination, or if the doctor specifically orders it.

How is the sample collected for testing?

Urine for a urinalysis can be collected at any time. The first morning sample is considered the most valuable because it is more concentrated and more likely to yield abnormalities if present. It is important to clean the genitalia before collecting urine. Bacteria and cells from the surrounding skin can contaminate the sample and interfere with the interpretation of test results. With women, menstrual blood and vaginal secretions can also be a source of contamination. Women should spread the labia of the vagina and clean from front to back; men should wipe the tip of the penis. Start to urinate, let some urine fall into the toilet, then collect one to two ounces of urine in the container provided, then void the rest into the toilet. This type of collection is called a "midstream collection" or a "clean catch."

A urine sample will only be useful for a urinalysis if taken to the doctor's office or laboratory for processing within a short period of time. If it will be longer than an hour between collection and transport time, then the urine should be refrigerated or a preservative may be added.

The Test

How is it used?

The urinalysis is used as a screening and/or diagnostic tool because it can help detect substances or cellular material in the urine associated with different metabolic and kidney disorders. It is ordered widely and routinely to detect any abnormalities that require follow up. Often, substances such as protein or glucose will begin to appear in the urine before people are aware that they may have a problem. It is used to detect urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other disorders of the urinary tract. In those with acute or chronic conditions, such as kidney disease, the urinalysis may be ordered at intervals as a rapid method to help monitor organ function, status, and response to treatment.

When is it ordered?

A routine urinalysis may be done when someone is admitted to the hospital. It may also be part of a wellness exam, a new pregnancy evaluation, or a work-up for a planned surgery. A urinalysis will most likely be performed when a person sees a health care provider complaining of symptoms of a UTI or other urinary system problem such as kidney disease. Some signs and symptoms may include:

Abdominal pain

Back pain

Painful or frequent urination

Blood in the urine

This test can also be useful when monitoring certain conditions over time.

What does the test result mean?

Urinalysis results can have many interpretations. Abnormal findings are a warning that something may be wrong and should be evaluated further. Generally, the greater the concentration of the atypical substance, such as greatly increased amounts of glucose, protein, or red blood cells, the more likely it is that there is a problem that needs to be addressed. But the results do not tell the doctor exactly what the cause of the finding is or whether it is a temporary or chronic condition.

A normal urinalysis does not guarantee that there is no illness. Some people will not release elevated amounts of a substance early in a disease process, and some will release them sporadically during the day, which means that they may be missed by a single urine sample. In very dilute urine, small quantities of chemicals may be undetectable.

For additional details on what certain results may mean, click on the links below:

Common Questions

1. Is the time of day a factor when collecting a urine sample?

Because this is a general screening test, time of collection is usually not important, although a first morning void is usually preferred because it is more concentrated. However, if your doctor is looking for a specific finding, he or she may ask that you collect a sample at a specific time. For example, if the doctor is looking for the excretion of glucose, it may be better to collect a specimen after a meal.

2. Are there home test kits available?

Kits to perform a full urinalysis are not available because the test requires special equipment and technical skills. However, some commercial testing strips can be purchased at a pharmacy to perform part of the chemical examination, such as urine pH, urine glucose, and urine ketones. See the article on Home Tests for more information.

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Article Sources

NOTE: This article is based on research that utilizes the sources cited here as well as the collective experience of the Lab Tests Online Editorial Review Board. This article is periodically reviewed by the Editorial Board and may be updated as a result of the review. Any new sources cited will be added to the list and distinguished from the original sources used.

Szczech, L. (2011 November 1). A Simple Test With Major Implications for Kidney Function. Medscape Today News [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/752171 through http://www.medscape.com. Accessed October 2012

(2007 August). Your Urinary System and How It Works. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse [On-line information]. Available online at http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/yoururinary/ through http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov. Accessed on 12/16/08.

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This article was last reviewed on December 6, 2012. | This article was last modified on February 24, 2015.

The review date indicates when the article was last reviewed from beginning to end to ensure that it reflects the most current science. A review may not require any modifications to the article, so the two dates may not always agree.

The modified date indicates that one or more changes were made to the article. Such changes may or may not result from a full review of the article, so the two dates may not always agree.